Boiler cleaner



April 1930- N. SNOW 1,756,394

' BQILER CLEANER Filed May 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 29, 1930. s ow Q 1,756,394

BOILER CLEANER Filed May 19, 1924 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm /W%mw 7% M atboznu S April 29, 1930. N sNow BOILER-CLEANER Filed May 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 awuenfoz N. L. SNOW BOILER CLEANER April 29, 1930.

Filed May 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i f 1]! Mlllllll; HMllllllllllllllllillllllll m the valve casing Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED earsu'r OFFICE NORMAN L. SNOW, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND POWER SPECIALTY CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BOILER CLEANER Application filed May 19,

The invention relates to boiler cleaners and has for its object the improved apparatus as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a boiler cleaner embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation thereof atright angles to Fig. 1;

Figure 2A is an end view of the valve actuating lever; I

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 2 showing different modified constructions;

Figure 4A is an edge view of the valve actuating lever of Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are sections through still other modified constructions;

Figure 8 is a side elevation partly in section of the boiler cleaner shown in Figure 4.

In the boiler cleaner shown in Figures 1, 2 and 2A, 1 is the rotatable blower element and 2 the gooseneck for supplying the cleaning fluid, such as steam or the like, to the blower element. 3 is the valve controlling the passage of cleaning fluid through the gooseneck, this valve being located within 4 at the lowerend of the gooseneck. The blower element is adapted to be rotated by suitable means including reduction gearing and comprising in the present instance the chain wheel 5, the pinion 6, and the gear 7 meshing with the pinion. The valve 3 is actuated upon rotation of the blower element by suitable means including the lever 8 pivoted at 9 upon the lug 10 extending upwardly from the valve casing and having its lower edge engageable with the valve stem 11 which extends upwardly and above the valve casing. This lever is actuated by the cam 12, which latter rotates with the blower element.

For securing a ready opening of the valve 3 by the application of increased leverage at the beginning of the cycle, the cam 12 is preferably concentric with the blower element and has separated ends 13 and 14 and the lever 8 has an enlarged free end portion havin the end face 15 which is offset toward a? gear 7, the curved face 16 upon its inner 1924. Serial No. 714,513.

edge, and the inclined transverse face 17 also upon its inner edge and extending from the face 16 to the reduced portion of the lever. A suitable pin 18 is mounted upon the gear 7 and offset relative to the cam 12 to be'in position to engage the end face 15 of the latter when in inoperative position. With this arrangement and with "the parts in the positions shown in Figure 2, upon rotation of the blower element in a clockwise direction, the'pin 18 engages the end face 15 of the lever 8, pushing the lever outwardly and downwardly with respect to the blower element 1, thereby opening the valve 3'. This pin slides across the face and as clockwise rotation continues, the outer face of the cam 12 engages the curved face 16 of the lever, which is substantially concentric therewith, holding. the lever in its adjusted position until the curved face 16 drops off the end 14 of the cam 12 and the inclined transverse face 17 slides over the end 14 permitting the lever to swing upwardly and inwardly to its normal inoperative position and allowing the valve 3 to close. a

The boiler cleaner shown in Figure 3 has the same general arrangement of parts as that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 2A but has a different arrangement for actuatin the valve. In detail, 19 is'the cam rotatab e with the blower element and preferably arranged concentric. therewith. This cam has the spaced ends 20 and 21. 22 is the valve actuatin lever and has at its free end portion formed with the end face 23, the curved face 24 at its inner edge and connecting into the end face 23, the radius of curvature being substantially equal to that of the outer face of the cam, the inclined transverse face 25 at its inner edge and connecting into the curved face 24 and the cut-away transverse face 26 connecting into the inclined transverse face 25.

In operation and upon clockwise rotation of the blower element and cam 19, and assuming the valve to be closed and the valve actuating lever 22 to be in its normal inoperative position, the end 20 of the cam 19 engages the end face 23 of the lever, thereby pushing the same downwardly and outwardly relative to the blower element. As the rotation continues, the end 20 of the cam slides off the end face 23 of the lever and engages the side of the lever with the outer face of the cam riding over the curved face 24 of the lever until the end 21 of the cam passes beyond the curved face, at which time the inclined transverse face 25 of the lever slides over the end .21 allowing the lever to gradually resume its .28 and preferably substantially concentric therewith, this cam having the spaced ends 29 and 30. 31 is the valve actuating lever pivotally'mounted intermediate its ends at 32 upon the lug 33 extending upwardly from the valve casing 34. One of the oppositely extending end portions 35 of the lever has an offset lug 36 provided with faces engage able with the cam for swinging the lever to open the valve. This end portion has the inclined end face 37 which, when the lever is in its normal inoperative position, is engageable with the inner edge of the end 29 of the cam 27 and over which this edge rides upon clockwise rotation of the blower element and cam. After the inner edge of the cam end has passed beyond the end of the lug 36 the inner face of the cam rides over the curved face 38 upon the end portion 35, holding the lever in adjusted position and thereby holding the valve open. When the end 30 of the cam 27 passes over the curved face 38, the transverse face 39 of the end portion 35 rides over this end of the cam, allowing the leverto gradually'return toward its original position until the end 30 passes beyond this transverse face, after which the lever is allowed to return immediately to its original position.

For the purpose of positively returning the valve actuating lever to its original position and also closing the valve, the other oppositely-extending end portion 40 of the lever is provided with the offset lug 41 having the lower face 42 which is engageable with a suitable projection such as the pin 43 upon the gear wheel to thereby raise this end portion of the lever and return the same to its original position, if it'has not previously reached this position. Also, this end portion 40 of the lever is connected to the valve stem 44 by the link 45 to insure the positive closing of the valve.

The arrangement of parts is such that when the pin 43 is passing the end portion 35 of the lever, the latter is in its inwardly adjusted position so that the pin does not contact with the same.

In the boiler cleaner shown in Figure 5, 46 is the cam rotatable with and substantially concentric with respect to the blower element 47. This cam has the space ends 48 and 49 and is provided in rear of the end 48'with the offset projection 50. 51 is the pivotal valve actuatin lever having the enlarged portion 52 near its free end and the curved extension 53 projecting from the enlarged portion and having an inner surface substantially concentric with the outer surface of the cam. The extension has at its free end the offset end face 54 which is engageable with the projection and the enlarged portion has the end face 55 which is *engageable with the end 48 of the cam, the curved face 56 upon its inner edge which is engageable with the outer face of the cam and is substantially concentric therewith, the inclined transverse face 57, and the cut-away transverse face 58 between the face 57 and the reduced portion of the lever.

in operation, and upon rotation of the blower element and cam in a clockwise direction,

the projection 50 engages the end face 54 upon the extension of the lever, thereby pushing the lever outwardly and downwardly relative to the cam and initially opening the valve. 'VVith this arrangement, the lever arm has the greatest possible length and as a consequence, its leverage for initially opening the valve is the greatest and at the same time movement of the valveistheslowest. Uponcontinuedclockwise rotation of the blower element and cam, the end 48 of the cam contacts with the end face 55 of the enlarged portion 52 and slides there over. The point of application to the lever is then closer to the pivot for the lever, thereby producing more rapid motion of the valve. Furthermore, since the end face projects toward the center of the blower element, outward and downward swinging of the lever is very'rapid. After the end 48 has passed off the end face 55, the curved face 56 rides over the outer face of the cam, whereby the lever is held in its adjusted position and the valve is maintained open. After the end 49 of the cam passes off the curved face 56, the inclined transverse face 57 rides over the end permitting the valve to gradually close until the point 59 between the faces 57 and 58 is reached, when upon further rotation the lever returns the remaining distance to its original position very suddenly, allowing the valve to snap to its closed position. Owing to the fact that the projection 50 and end face 54upon the extension 53 are offset from the main positions of the cam and lever, it will be seen that'they will not interfere with the operation of the lever, after its initial actuation.

With thisarrangement, it will be seen that the greatest amount of power with very slow motion is secured for the initial opening movement of the valve. Also, after the initial opening movement of the valve it is opened very rapidly. Y

For the purpose of relieving the spring pressure upon the valve while the latter is being initially opened, I have provided the following construction:

also the lower side of the washer 67 which latter is suitably secured to the valve stem. As shown, this latter washer has a slot therein for engagement with the neck 68 of the valve stem. For limiting the shortening mo tion of the auxiliary spring, there is the cylinder 69 surrounding the same and resting upon the washer 66, the upper end of this cylinder being normally spaced from the lower side of the washer 67.

With this arrangement, the main spring 6.0 moves the valve from its open position toa position where it is nearly closed. At this latter position the movement of the main spring is limited by the inturned ends of the i surrounding cylinder. Further closing movement of the valve is then effected by the small or auxiliary spring 61 assisted by the pressure of the cleaning fluid in the valve casing below the valve which becomes increasingly greater than the pressure of the cleaning fluid above the valve, as this latter travels toward its closed position. This overbalanced steam pressure assists in the valve closing, thus permitting the use of a weaker auxiliary spring. Thus, during the initial opening movement of the valve, the eflort required will be that necessary to overcome the resistance offered by the small or auxiliary spring and that offered by the pressure of the cleaning fluid in the valve casing. After the valve has been initially opened, the effort required to completely open the valve will be that necessary to overcome the resistance oflered by the main spring since the pressures of the'cleaning fluid upon the opposite sides of the valve are substantially equal. Thus, the amount of work required to initially move the Valve from its seat is materially lessened by the use of the weaker auxiliary spring at the beginning of the valve opening cycle.

As shown in Figure 6, 70 is the valve casing at the lower end of the gooseneck 71, and

able therewith to compress the same.

7 2 is the valve located within the casing and having the upwardly extending valve stem 73 projecting above the top of the valve casing. The valve is normally held to its seat by means of the coiled spring 74, the lower end of which abuts the flange 75 upon the nut 76 and the upper end of which abuts the washer 7 7 suitably secured to the upper end of the valve stem 73. The nut 7 6 is threaded upon the nipple 7 8 which has a reduced portion threadedly engaging the upper wall of the valve casing and through which the valve stem passes. 7 9 is suitable packing within the nipple 78 and surrounding the valve stem, and 80 is a packing gland surrounding the valve stem above the packing 79 and e11g%% 3 1s packing gland is yieldably held in engagement with the packing by means of the coil spring 81 which abuts the upper end of the nut 76 and the upper face of the packing gland. 82 is a cylinder surrounding the valve stem and located within the coil spring 81, the ends of this cylinder also abutting the upper end of the nut 7 6 and the upper face of the packing gland and limiting upward movement of the latter.

With this arrangement it will be seen that the packing gland is yieldably held in contact with the packing and that the tension of the spring for holding the packing gland in contact with the packing may be varied by rotatably adjusting the nut upon the nipple.

As shown in Figure 7, the valve within the valve casing 83 is normally held to its seat by means of the coil spring 84 abutting the upper face of the casing and the washer 85 which rests against the washer 86 suitably secured to the upper end of the valve stem 87. 88 is a nipple through which the valve stem passes and between which and the valve stem is located the packing 89. 90 is the packing gland surrounding the valve stem and engageable with the packing and provided with the annular flange 91. 92 is a tubular body also surrounding the valve stem beyond the packing gland and provided with the annular flange 93. 94 is a coil spring abutting the annular flanges of the packing gland 90 and body 92, and 95 is a cylinder inside the coil spring 84 and having inturned ends engageable over the annular flanges of the packing gland and tubular body to limit their operation under the influence of the coil spring 94. These inturned ends are so mitting pressure to the packing 89 through the packing gland 90.

As long as the valve is open cleaning fluid is passing through the valve casing and gooseneck to the blower element and the packing will have compression and prevent leakage around the valve stem. As soon as the valve is closed all stress is again'taken off the pacln mg.

Figure 8 in addition to showing in side elevation the arrangement of the parts of the boiler cleaner of Figure 4 shows an improved arrangement of swivel between the blower element 38 and the gooseneck 96. In detail, 97 is the swivel tube which extends into the stuffing box 98 upon and preferably integral with the goose neck, 99 the packing within the stufling. box and surrounding the swivel tube, and 100 the packing gland. This gland is yieldably held position by the coil s rings 101, which abutthe outer end of the gland and the nuts 102 threaded upon the bolts 103. These bolts pass through lugs 104 and 105 respectively upon the stuffing box and gland.

Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blowerelement, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, a pivotal lever for actuating said valve, said lever being formed with a free end provided with an offset face said lever being further provided with a second face in the normal plane of the lever, and movable means adapted to first engage said offset face to-open said valve and to then engage said second named face to maintain the valve in open position.

2. In a boiler cleaner, the combination, with a rotatable blower element, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, a pivotal lever for actuating said Valve having an edge presented toward the element, said lever being formed with a free end provided with an end face, a face'in said edge inclined toward the axis of the lever and a curved face in said edge connecting said end face and said inclined face, and means for actuating said lever upon rotation of said blower element, said means being successively engageable with said end face, curved face, and inclined face.

3. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, a pivotal lever for actuating said valve having an edge presented toward the element and formed with an enlarged free end portion provided with an end face, a face in said edge inclined toward the axis of'the lever and a curved face in said edge connecting said end face and said inclined face and means for operating said lever engageable with said faces upon rotation of said blower element including a cam having spaced ends, the outer surface of said cam being engageable with the curved face of said lever.

4. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, a pivotal lever for actuating said valve, having an edge presented toward the element and formed with an enlarged free end portion provided with an offset end face, a face in said edge inclined toward the axis of the lever and a curved face in said edge connecting said end face and said inclined face and means for actuating said lever upon rotation of said blower element including a pin engageable with said offset end face, and a cam engageable with said curved face and lnclined face, after the engagement of sald pm with said offset end face.

5. In a boilercleaner, the combination 0 concentric therewith, said cam having spaced ends, and a pivotal lever for actuatlng said valve, said lever having a free end portion provided with an end face extendlng at an angle to the axis of said free end portion and a face upon its lnner edge, said lever in its normal position being located so that upon rotation of said blower element, one end of said cam is engageable with the end face of said free end portion of said lever to swing the latter about its pivot, after which the face upon the inner edge of said free end portion of lever rides over the outer face of said came.

6. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve for controling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, a pivotal lever for actuating said valve, said lever having a free end portion provided with anend face extending at an angle to the axis of said free end portion, and an offset portion extending from said free end portion at the end thereof, and means rotatable with said blower element and engageable first with said offset extension and then with said end face of said free end portion for moving said lever to actuate said valve.

7. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluidthereto, and means operable upon the rotation of said blower element for effecting a relatively slow initial opening movement of said valve and a subsequent rapid opening movement thereof.

8. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluidthereto provid-ed with a valve stem, a main spring for normally moving said valve from open position to a position near the closed position, an auxiliary spring fornormally moving said valve from said position near the closed position to said closed position, and means engageable with said valve stem for moving said valve to open position.

9. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, a main spring for normally returning said valve from its open position through a por tion of its travel, an auxiliary spring for normally returning said valve through the remaining portion of its travel, and means for moving said valve to open position.

10. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower element, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, said valve having a valve stem, a main coil spring for actuating said valve stem to move said valve from open position, means for limiting the movement of said main spring, an auxiliary coilspring for actuating said valve stem to move said valve toward closed position, said auxiliary spring being weaker than said main spring, and means engageable with said valve stem to move said valve to open position.

11. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a movable blower element,of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, and means dependent upon the movement of said blower element for efl'ecting a relatively slow initial opening movement of said valve and a subsequent rapid opening movement thereof.

12. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a movable blower element of a source of supply of cleaning fluid, a valve forcontrolling the admission of the cleaning fluid to said blower element, a lever to actuate said valve to open the same, and means operable upon movement of said blower element to move'said lever to actuate said valve, said means being initially applied at a point relatively remote from the fulcrum of said lever to secure a relatively powerful leverage to initially move the said valve from its seat and being subsequently applied at a point less remote from the fulcrum of said lever.

13. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, a source of cleaning fluid, a valve for controlling the admission of the cleaning fluid to said blower element, a lever for actuating said valve, said lever being formed to provide an elongated lever arm and a relatively short lever arm, and means movable with the blower element for moving said lever to actuate said valve, said means being adapted to initially engage the elongated portion of the lever to move the lever through the elongated lever arm and to subsequently engage the relatively short portion of the lever to move the lever through the relatively short lever arm.

14;. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, a source'of cleaning fluid supply, a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to the said blower element, a lever for actuating said valve, said lever being formed to provide an elongated lever arm and a relatively short lever arm, and means movable with the blower element and engageable with the lever for moving the said lever to actuate the valve, said means including a cam carried by the blower element and a projection carried by the cam, the cam and projection being so arranged that upon rotation of the blower element the projection initially engages the elongated portion of the lever arm and the cam subsequently engages the relatively short lever arm of the lever.

15. In a' boiler cleaner, the combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, and means including a cam rotatable with said blower element and a lever operable by said cam for effecting a relatively slow initial opening movement of said valve and a subsequent rapid opening movement thereof.

16. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, a source of cleaning fluid, a valve for controlling the admission of the cleaning fluid to said blower element, a fulcrumed lever for actuating said valve, said lever being formed to provide a pluralit of cam engaging surfaces spaced variable distances from the fulcrum of said lever, and a cam rotatable with said blower element for mov ing said lever to actuate said valve, said cam being successively engageable with the variably spaced cam engaging surfaces on the said lever for effecting a relatively slow initial opening movement of said valve and a subsequent rapid opening movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I afflx my signature.

NORMAN L. SNOW. 

